Range Management Specialist
John Warner
2337 Technology Parkway, Suite C
Hollister, CA 95023
831.637.4360 x112
john.warner@ca.usda.gov

Services Provided (and time requirement):

• Conservation Plans. These usually require at least two site visits and take several weeks to complete.
• Recommendations for cross fencing, range seeding, brush clearing, cover crops, weed management, and other non-engineering conservation practices, can be completed by the next business day, depending on workload.
• Information about solar systems for livestock water systems.
• Mapping I am available for field visits to map conservation projects on farms and ranches. Using a GPS unit, the points taken in the field are then downloaded onto aerial photos and/or topographic maps. These maps can contain information about soils, flood zones, wildlife information, or other background layers that are of interest to the land owner or manager. Maps can be completed by the next business day, depending on workload.
• Presentations I am available for giving presentations on Farm Bill Cost-Share Programs, Mapping, Pesticide Risk Assessments, Goals Setting, and other subjects as requested.

• Residual Dry Matter determinations (done in the fall before the first rains). The samples take about a month to air-dry in the office and the data can be made available to the land owner or manager at that time.
• Pesticide risk assessments Based on the specific soils and local conditions of the farm or ranch, pesticide risk assessments for water quality can be completed using a USDA windows based “Pesticide Screening Tool”. This program generates easy-to-understand reports that can be completed by the next business day, depending on workload.

 

Hydrologist
Nick Lasher
744-A La Guardia St.
Salinas, CA 93905
831.710.2540
nick.lasher@ca.usda.gov

 

Services Provided

• Site Visits, assessments, engineering surveys, engineered designs, and construction inspections for
  • Private ranch, rural and access roads
  • Erosion control projects (sediment basins, gully restoration, stormwater management
• Work with landowners, operators, and conservation partners on
  • Initial site visits for resource concerns
  • Proposing solutions/structural designs/management practices
  • Preparing cost estimates
  • Planning and designing
• Review other engineering work related to road and conservation engineering

Time Requirement fo Services Provided

• General road engineering (i.e. give general road engineering alternatives verbally)
  • 0-2 hours
• Site specific road engineering consultation (i.e. walk the road and give verbal site alternatives)
  • 0-3 days
• Review of outside engineering work to ensure NRCS practice compliance
  • 0-1 month
• Determine feasibility of project (typically entails same process as full design)
  • 0-8 months
• Complete engineering design
  • 2 months

Civil/Environmental Engineer
Dina Cadenazzi
2337 Technology Parkway, Suite C
Hollister, CA  95023
831.637.4360 x109
dina.cadenazzi@ca.usda.gov

Services Provided

• Biotechnical engineering for riparian and stream corridors, wetlands and erosion control
• Investigating engineering problems, feasibility studies and planing and design
• Work with individuals, operators and interagency staff

The Agriculture & Land-Based Training Association (ALBA) supports aspiring entrepreneurs in developing small farm businesses. ALBA creates economic opportunities while promoting organic farming and healthy local food systems. Our mission is to advance economic viability, social equity and ecological land management among limited-resource and aspiring farmers.

* ALBA provides access to land, water and equipment on its two organic farms in Monterey County, where beginning farmers create small farm enterprises.

* ALBA helps established growers of the central coast to improve water quality by offering leadership, training, and tools for resource conservation.

* ALBA demonstrates practical and sustainable farming methods on its properties, including structural, vegetative, and cultural practices as well as habitat restoration

For more information in English or Spanish, please contact:

Watershed Outreach Coordinator
Craig Ficenec
PO Box 6264
Salinas, CA  93912
831.682.6813
craig@albafarmers.org
http://albafarmers.org

CCVT is a non-profit grower-group whose mission is to promote sustainable practices on the Central Coast. It represents a collaborative partnership of growers, wineries, consultants, researchers, and natural resource professionals. Not only have CCVT members increased the adoption of environmentally friendly farming practices, but they have shared their experience with other growers in hopes of increasing the acceptance of these practices. CCVT has been recognized as an innovative leader by regulatory agencies, educators, and environmental activists. A Recipient of California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s Integrated Pest Management Innovator Award and Renew America’s Environmental Index, CCVT’s programs are a model for other agricultural groups working towards sustainability.

Outreach and Education Coordinator
Jill Whitacre
835 12th Street, Suite 204
Paso Robles, CA 93446
PHONE (805) 369-CCVT (2288)
FAX (805) 369-2292
jill@vineyardteam.org

Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF)

Central Coast Regional Coordinator
Sam Earnshaw
PO Box 1766
Watsonville, CA 
(831) 722-5556
sambo@cruzio.com

Central Coast Water Quality Preservation, Inc., (CCWQP) manages the Cooperative Monitoring Program (CMP) on behalf of irrigated agriculture throughout the Central Coast.

For more information please contact:

Executive Director
Kirk Schmidt
PO Box 1049
Watsonville CA 95077
831-761-8644 x14
kschmidt@ccwqp.org

Program Manager
Sarah Greene
PO Box 1049
Watsonville CA 95077
831-331-9051 (cell, preferred)
831-761-8644 (office)
sgreene@ccwqp.org